Radioactive leaks due to rupture of prematurely degraded metal tubing have released an undisclosed amount of radioactivity from Unit 3 of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. The same deterioration has been found in unit 2. Leaks like these can lead to massive radiation escape by draining cooling water from the reactors, rapidly causing collapse of containment. Massive radiation release from San Onofre could endanger 8.4 million people living within 50 miles. A smaller leak could close Camp Pendleton, threatening national security. The cause of the premature aging of the metal tubing is not understood. Previous seismic safety models must now be called into question. San Onofre's Unit 1 reactor operated from 1968 to 1992 and was closed after 24 years. Units 2 and 3 have been operating for nearly 30 years, since 1982 and 1983, respectively. These aged reactors need to be closed. NRC’s once- or twice-a-year cursory inspections are not sufficient to ensure safety of these aging reactors. Any attempts to repair these aged reactors endanger workers known as jumpers who absorb large doses of radiation, sometimes a year’s worth of permissible exposure, in a short-time. Medically, it is not known if this is actually a safe practice. Shut down these aging reactors permanently before the human cost for this power becomes too high.

Letter to

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

U.S. Senate

I just signed the following petition addressed to: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

----------------Permanently Shut Down San Onofre Nuclear Reactors

Radioactive leaks due to rupture of prematurely degraded metal tubing has released an undisclosed amount of radioactivity from Unit 3 of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. The same deterioration has been found in unit 2. Leaks like this can lead to massive radiation escape by draining cooling water from the reactor which rapidly causes collapse of containment. Massive radiation release from San Onofre could endanger 8.4 million people living within 50 miles. It could close Camp Pendleton, threatening national security. The cause of the premature aging of the metal tubing is not understood. Previous seismic safety models must now called into question. San Onofre's Unit 1 reactor operated from 1968 to 1992 and was closed after 24 years. Units 2 and 3 have been operating for nearly 30 years, since 1982 and 1983, respectively. These aging reactors need to be shut down. NRC's once- or twice-a-year inspections are no longer sufficient to ensure thier safety. Any attempts to repair these aged reactors endanger workers known as jumpers who absorb large doses of radiation, sometimes a year’s worth of permissible exposure, in a short-time. Medically, it is not known if this is actually a safe practice. Shut down these aging reactors permanently before the human cost for this power becomes too high.----------------